Android Science and the Animal Rights Movement: Are There Analogies?

The day is already here when androids perform tasks and act in ways which seem to be human. However, as of now, no one is prepared to view these man-made creations as anything other than property to be used for our benefit or entertainment. As the systems become more sophisticated, and as engineers try harder to build “conscious” machines, I suggest that a number of moral, ethical, and legal issues could arise. By drawing upon the animal rights movement, an analogy can be drawn which suggests that, given the right degree of complexity, androids may have a claim to a certain level of moral status. However, to assert a claim that androids could become legal persons, something more is needed; the analogy is not perfect. Despite similarities there are significant differences between the animal and the android at levels deeper than the mere physical. Identifying these points of similarity and divergence may ultimately depend upon how we come to understand the concept of human consciousness. Furthermore, by comparing animals and androids, we might also begin to see how our ideas about consciousness impact on our concept of rights. It is also suggested that a point of moral concern may come quite early in any development process, and when it does, it could have some unexpected ramifications if not understood by researchers. Failure to be aware of this risk could result in reactions that curtail the very development of android science.